The investigators aim to examine the feasibility of incorporating serological celiac disease (CD) screening into general pediatric outpatient clinics in Sweden and through structured monitoring examine the effects of diagnosing and treating screening-detected CD. Screening will be tailored to general pediatric outpatient clinics in the Gothenburg metropolitan area with the goal to screen 1000 children over four months. Screening for CD will be carried out by measuring tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (TGA) in blood. Children who are persistently TGA positive will be enrolled into a 6-12-month follow-up protocol responsible for diagnosing CD, installation of gluten-free diet and to assess their short-term impact upon the child's wellbeing. Other components to assess include (I) the feasibility to incorporate CD screening into busy pediatric practices; (II) parental/child interest in, and satisfaction with, participating in a CD screening program and (III) identifying key considerations for a possible scaled-up, broad-based, CD screening.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
496
celiac disease-specific autoantibodies
Queen Slivia Children's Hosptial
Gothenburg, Sweden
BUMM Hisingen
Gothenburg, Sweden
Number of participants diagnosed with celiac disease
Celiac disease diagnosed according to European pediatric (ESPGHAN) guidelines
Time frame: Assessed after 6-12 months of follow-up
Number of participants identified with celiac disease autoimmunity
Celiac disease autoimmunity defined by having two consecutive positive tests for tissue transglutaminase (TTG) autoantibodies
Time frame: Assessed after performed two tests of TTG (apprx. 1-2 months after enrollment)
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